Container, sealing cap and method for sealing a nozzle tip of a curable liquid dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A cap for curable material dispensing containers prevents the material from curing after opening the dispensing nozzle. Thus, when mounted on a partially-dispensed container, the nozzle cap preserves flowable materials such as air-cured glues, sealants, caulks, etc. In particular, a deformable sealant in the cap remains pliant, conforming in and/or around the nozzle tip to create a seal. A retention member frictionally grips the nozzle to prevent inadvertent release of the cap, yet accommodates nozzle tips cut to varying lengths.

[0001] The present application is a continuation of PCT Serial No.PCT/US02/02510 filed on Jan. 29, 2002 (now pending) which claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of Provisional Application Serial No.60/265,226, filed Jan. 31, 2001 (abandoned). The disclosure of thatprovisional application is hereby fully incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to resealing the open nozzle ofany dispensing container of curable material. More specifically, theinvention relates to an improved cap for placement on the nozzle of acylindrical squeeze container or other dispensing cartridge, such asthose used in connection with a caulking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Various dispensers are used to dispense curable materials such assealants, caulks, and glues. Disposable cartridges may be mounted on agun or the container may be of the type needing to be squeezed todispense the material. A tapered, plastic nozzle of the container isselectively cut at the desired angle to form a nozzle tip orifice of thedesired size. When using a gun, a trigger is squeezed to advance apiston of the gun against a plug of the cartridge. The plug moves intothe cartridge to dispense the flowable material through the orifice. Inaddition to caulking type dispensing tubes, curable material issometimes in one-piece molded tubes where the nozzle is molded into thetube. The curable material is sealed inside the tube by heat sealing thetube walls much like a toothpaste tube.

[0004] Standardized cartridges and squeeze containers, while providingeconomic packaging of flowable materials, generally are not sizedprecisely for the desired use. Consequently, a quantity of flowablematerial remains in partially-dispensed containers between uses. Cappingthe nozzle tip is important between uses to prevent leakage, but perhapsmore importantly to prevent the material in the nozzle tip from curingthus potentially rendering the rest of the uncured material unusable.

[0005] Various caps have been used to block the opened nozzle tip withlimited success. Many containers have a smooth tapered nozzle thatconventional caps cannot adequately seal against. Conventional capstherefore allow air to contact the curable material. Over a short timeof hours to weeks, the material in the nozzle, and perhaps the entirecontainer, hardens and the nozzle becomes plugged. The user must resortto somehow clearing a flow path through the nozzle or the container mayeven become unusable.

[0006] Efforts to provide an air-tight seal to prevent this hardeninginclude installing a nail, tape, plastic caps or other object into or onthe nozzle tip. However, it is difficult to obtain a good seal and oftenthe flowable material hardens nonetheless. In addition, it isinconvenient to procure a number of objects of varying diameters toaccommodate variations in the diameter of the nozzle tip orifice.

[0007] Consequently, there exists a significant need for selectivelysealing partially-dispensed containers of curable material. Ideally, aneconomical cap should be provided having the ability to seal varioustapered nozzles that have been cut in different locations to yielddischarge orifices of different diameter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention therefore provides a manner of capping apartially-dispensed curable material container so that flowable contentscontained therein do not harden due to exposure to air. Thus, thecontinued use and convenience of the dispensing container is maintained.In one preferred embodiment, a nozzle tip of the container may beselectively cut to achieve the desired shape and size of nozzle tiporifice. Yet, unused portions of the container remain viable for anextended period of time after opening the nozzle tip.

[0009] In an aspect consistent with the invention, a sealing cap, andmethod for use, includes a hollow elongate body having an open end and aclosed end. The body includes an interior space shaped to encompass aportion of the nozzle including the tip. A deformable sealant is locatedwithin a portion of the interior space toward the closed end. One ormore retention members may be positioned within the interior space ofthe body to frictionally engage the nozzle when the nozzle tip isinserted into sealing contact with the deformable sealant. The retentionmember(s) help to secure the cap on the nozzle and may be separate orintegral relative to the body. The deformable sealant may also be aseparate component inserted into the cap or integrally formed with thecap.

[0010] Various advantages, objectives, and features of the inventionwill become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artupon review of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a protective sealing cap consistent with aspects of theinvention placed on a cartridge loaded in a caulking gun.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the protective sealingcap of FIG. 1 removed from the nozzle of the cartridge.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the protective cap of FIGS. 1and 2 mounted on the nozzle of a partially-dispensed cartridge.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a squeeze container usable inconnection with the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4A is a partially cross sectioned view of the nozzle portionof the squeeze container shown in FIG. 4, additionally including a capconstructed in accordance with the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retention member usable inconnection with the cap of this invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative cap constructedin accordance with the invention.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of another alternative capconstructed in accordance with the invention.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment ofa protective sealing cap of this invention.

[0020]FIG. 8A is a cross sectional view taken along line 8A-8A of FIG.8.

DETAILED OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a protective sealingcap 10 selectively closing a nozzle 12 of a partially-dispensedcartridge 14 mounted on a conventional caulking gun 16. The cartridge 14contains a quantity of flowable and curable material 18, such assealants, caulks, glue, etc.

[0022] The flowable material 18 is dispensed through the nozzle 12 byrepetitively squeezing and releasing a trigger 20 on a handle 22 of thegun 16, which in turn linearly ratchets an L-shaped rod 24 forward intoa hollow tube 26 of the cartridge 14. A flat, circular plate 28 attachedto the L-shaped rod 24 abuts a plug 30 constrained in the tube 26 toinwardly slide and thereby to expel the flowable material 18.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a nozzle tip 32 of the nozzle 12is depicted prior to cutting along a cut line 34 to form a nozzle tiporifice 36 and a discarded portion 38.

[0024] The protective cap 10, consistent with aspects of the invention,includes a hollow, elongate body 40 of a polymer material shaped toreceive the nozzle tip 32, both before and after removal of thediscarded portion 38, through an open end 42.

[0025] A quantity of deformable sealant 44 is contained with the body 40toward a closed end 46 of the body 40. The amount of sealant 44 isselected to substantially encompass the nozzle tip 32 without beingexpelled out of the open end 42. Various types of deformable sealant 44may be used, for example a viscous, uncured silicon gel or wax may beinserted into the cap 10. As one additional alternative, sealant 44 maybe integrally formed with the cap, such as by molding a thermoplastic orthermoset low durometer elastomer into the cap 10. Preferably, the typeof compound selected for sealant 44 remains pliable, does not tend toflow freely, and does not chemically interact with flowable materials18. The sealant material 44 may or may not enter the nozzle 12 to aid insealing. If it does enter nozzle 12, sealant 44 will be easily expelledduring the next use.

[0026] A retention member, such as an anti-backup clip 48 shaped as aring, maintains the nozzle tip 34 in sealing contact with the sealant44. In particular, the anti-backup clip 48 snaps into a peripheralgroove 50 across the open end 42 of the body 40. An aperture 52 in theclip 48 is sized to permit inward movement of the nozzle tip 34 ofvarious dimensions. Inwardly projecting barbs 54 inwardly yield as thenozzle tip is inserted and thereafter frictionally engage the nozzle tip32 to prevent inadvertent dislodging of the cap 10. The clip 48 furtherassists in containing the sealant 44 within the body 40.

[0027] A utility knife or other means is used to remove a discardedportion 38 from the nozzle tip 32 along the desired cut line 34, thusforming the nozzle tip orifice 36. After dispensing a portion of theflowable material 18 from the cartridge 14, the cap 10 is pressed ontothe nozzle tip 32 until the nozzle tip orifice 36 is in sealing contactwith the deformable sealant 44. A retention member, such as clip 48attached to the body 40 of the cap 10, frictionally engages the nozzle12, keeping the cap 10 mounted to the cartridge 14 until manuallyremoved for subsequent dispensing.

[0028] By virtue of the foregoing, a protective cap 10 for a caulkinggun cartridge 14 includes a deformable sealant 44 to form an air tightseal with the nozzle tip 32, thus preventing hardening of the flowablematerial 18 in a partially-dispensed cartridge 14.

[0029]FIGS. 4 and 4A illustrate an alternative type of container 100which can benefit from the present invention. Particularly, container100 is a squeeze type of container including a flexible hollow bodyportion 102 including a nozzle 104 which is preferably tapered andincludes a tip 104 a. As further shown in FIG. 4A, container 100includes a curable and flowable material 106 and nozzle tip 104 areceives a cap 107 constructed in accordance with the invention. Cap 107is a hollow body having an interior space 108, an open end 110 and aclosed end 112. Closed end 112 includes a deformable sealant 114,preferably of the type of material described above relative to sealant44. This sealant 114 may enter nozzle tip 104 a through orifice 116 asshown to aid in sealing and preventing air from reaching material 106. Aretention member 120 including a plurality of projections 122 whichengage the outer surface of nozzle 104 is retained against an annularledge 124 to aid in frictionally retaining cap 107 on nozzle 104.

[0030] As further shown in FIG. 5, projections 122 of retention member120 are angled, in this embodiment, to facilitate threading cap 107 onnozzle 104. It will be appreciated that other threadable or push-ontypes of retention members may be used as well. As another alternative,the retention member may simply be an elastic or resilient portion ofcap 107 which frictionally grips the outer surface of nozzle 104.

[0031]FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative cap 130 comprised of a bodyhaving an open end 132 and a closed end 134 receiving a deformablesealant 136. In this embodiment, integral projections 138 are utilizedas retention members to frictionally grip the outer surface of nozzle104.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 7, another alternative cap 140 likewiseincludes an open end 142 and a closed end 144 receiving a deformablesealant 146. Annular projections 148 are disposed proximate open end 142for frictionally engaging the outer surface of nozzle 104.

[0033]FIGS. 8 and 8A illustrate another alternative cap 150 of thisinvention including an open end 152, a closed end 154 and an interiorspace 156 receiving a deformable sealant 158 toward the closed end. Thedeformable sealant 158 may be of the type previously described or of adifferent suitable type in accordance with the principles of thisinvention. Three retention members 160, 162, 164 are integrally moldedwithin the cap 150 at approximately 120° spaced apart locations. In thisembodiment, the retention members 160, 162, 164 comprise short pieces ofwire which bend radially inward into the interior space 156 such thatthe ends 160 a, 162 a of each wire preferably engage the nozzle (notshown) of a container having a quantity of flowable and curable materialtherein, as previously described. The cap 150 may simply be pressed ontothe nozzle tip (not shown) until the open orifice or outlet of the tipengages and deforms the sealant 158 in the manner described above.Retention members 160, 162, 164 help to secure the cap 150 onto thenozzle tip until the cap 150 is removed. During removal of cap 150, theends 160 a, 162 a (only two of three being illustrated) of one or moreof the retention members 160, 162, 164 may deform as the cap 150 ispulled off of the nozzle tip. The cap is preferably designed for asingle use only and, therefore, the used cap 150 may be discarded andreplaced by a new cap if the nozzle tip again needs to be sealed afterthat use. However, there may be situations and embodiments in whichre-use is preferred. As one example, if retention members 160, 162, 164are not damaged, then the user may desire to re-use cap 150. Finally,FIG. 8A shows a small vent hole 166 in the closed end 154 of the cap150. This is useful to vent the air from the interior space 156 of thecap 150 as the closed end 154 is filled with the deformable sealantmaterial 158.

[0034] While one embodiment has been described in some detail, it is notthe intention of the Applicants to restrict or in any way limit thescope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages andmodifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Thevarious features of the invention may be used alone or in numerouscombinations depending on the needs and preferences of the user. Thishas been a description of the present invention, along with thepreferred methods of practicing the present invention as currentlyknown. However, the invention itself should only be defined by theappended claims, wherein

we claim:
 1. A container for dispensing one of a glue, sealant andcaulk, comprising: a hollow tube containing the glue, sealant or caulk;a nozzle at one end of the tube, the nozzle having a tip with an outletto dispense the glue, sealant or caulk, and a sealing cap including ahollow elongate body having an open end and a closed end and an interiorspace shaped to encompass a portion of the nozzle including the tip anda deformable sealant located within a portion of the interior spacetoward the closed end and sealing the orifice.
 2. The container of claim1, wherein said nozzle is integrally formed in one piece and furthercomprising: a retention member positioned within the interior space forfrictionally engaging the nozzle when the nozzle tip is insert intosealing contact with the quantity of deformable sealant.
 3. Thecontainer of claim 2, wherein the retention member is separable from thebody.
 4. The container of claim 2, wherein the retention member isintegrally formed with the body.
 5. The container of claim 2, whereinthe retention member includes at least one projection on an internalwall of the body.
 6. The container of claim 2, wherein the retentionmember further comprises a plurality of angled projections configured tofacilitate threading the cap onto the nozzle.
 7. The container of claim1, wherein the retention member further comprises a wire having an endextending into the interior space so as to engage said nozzle tip. 8.The container of claim 1, wherein the deformable sealant is selectedfrom the group consisting of a silicon gel and a wax.
 9. The containerof claim 1, wherein the deformable sealant comprises an elastomer.
 10. Asealing cap for a container holding a flowable and curable material, thecontainer further having integral, one-piece elongate dispensing nozzlewith an outer surface and a tip, the sealing cap comprising: a hollowelongate body having an open end and a closed end and an interior spaceshaped to encompass a portion of the nozzle including the tip; adeformable sealant located within a portion of the interior space towardthe closed end; and a retention member located within the interior spaceconfigured to frictionally engage the outer surface of the elongatenozzle when the nozzle tip is insert into sealing contact with thedeformable sealant.
 11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the retentionmember is separable from the body.
 12. The cap of claim 10, wherein theretention member is integrally formed with the body.
 13. The cap ofclaim 10, wherein the retention member includes at least one projectionon an internal wall of the body.
 14. The cap of claim 10, wherein theretention member further comprises a plurality of angled projectionsconfigured to facilitate threading the cap onto the nozzle.
 15. The capof claim 10, wherein the retention member further comprises a wirehaving an end extending into the interior space so as to engage saidnozzle tip.
 16. The cap of claim 10, wherein the deformable sealant isselected from the group consisting of a silicon gel and a wax.
 17. Thecap of claim 10, wherein the deformable sealant comprises an elastomer.18. A method of selectively sealing an open nozzle tip of a partiallydispensed container of flowable and curable material, the containerhaving an elongate, integrally formed nozzle with an outer surface, themethod comprising: placing a deformable sealant material within a closedend of a cap shaped to receive the outer surface and the open nozzletip; engaging the cap over the open nozzle tip; making sealing contactbetween the open nozzle tip and the deformable sealant material; andengaging at least one projection of the cap onto the outer surface ofthe elongate, integrally formed nozzle.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the step of engaging at least one projection further comprises:rotating the cap onto an outer surface of the nozzle tip with athreading action to retain the cap on the nozzle tip.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising: cutting an end of the nozzle to form theopen nozzle tip prior to engaging the cap over the open nozzle tip.